When the dust settled, our test revealed the best random-orbit sander.

Rockwell RK4246K

Rockwell RK4246K

When we set out to test random-orbit sanders, we were concerned there wouldn't be enough to say. After all, sanders are pretty simple, and toolmakers have come a long way since the days when sanders tended to gouge circles whenever they touched a piece of wood. Well, it wasn't the first time our preconceptions turned out to be wrong. While all nine sanders in the test produced an acceptable surface finish, some operated far more smoothly than others. And there were other differences as well: Certain models were particularly adept at collecting the sawdust they produced, while others had better ergonomics than their peers. Finally, we ran a time trial, clocking how long it took each contender to remove a rectangle of paint applied to a medium-density fiberboard panel—there were a couple of real hares in that test. When the sawdust settled, we had a clear winner.

Bosch ROS20VS

Bosch ROS20VS

Likes: That pretty much tells the Bosch sander's story—it gathered the most sawdust. It's the only model in the test that came with a pleated (automotive-style) prefilter. The Bosch's elongated rubber-coated (overmolded) handle is pleasingly long; you can use two hands if you care to.

Dislikes: The dust lid is difficult to snap down. Double-check that it's snapped, because if it's not, the dust will fly.